Lexus LS - purchase tax and vat on a old vehicle

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Wed 18 Aug 2010 22:41
Lexus LS - purchase tax and vat on a old vehicle - topbloke

Hi i need some guidance but not sure if posted in correct area so bear with me

The story go's like this, a friend of mine wants to buy and ship a left hand drive vehicle (lexus) from the uk to poland (easy so far) but the vehicle has a chequed past in as much as it was purchased by its present owner in the states (he has the pink slip or equivelent bill of sale etc) it was then shipped to St Marteens where the present owner used it he then came to live in the uk and the vehicle came with him and up untill recently he has been using it here, it will need an mot here and then i believe an iva to get a log book (V5) but then i believe that a purchase tax and vat is due on the vehicle.

What i need to know is this infact true that the owner has to pay this tax when he has already owned it for quiet awhile, or doe's the new owner have to pay a tax on this vehicle, or indeed i have been misinformed, i have made various phone calls on his behalf (the would be purchaser) to the ministry and just go round in circles them telling me that i need to download the forms etc from their web site .

If any one has any links that they think appropiate then please post or some solid information that i can work with i would be most gratefull,Regards TB

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Thu 19 Aug 2010 11:09
Lexus LS - purchase tax and vat on a old vehicle - LucyBC

This is outside my area of expertise but I think he would be better off if it is not registered in the UK and that the new registration is done directly in Poland.

If he has to register it in the UK for some reason then it does not matter how long he has had it - the various taxes will still be payable.

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Sun 22 Aug 2010 17:42
Lexus LS - purchase tax and vat on a old vehicle - topbloke

okay anyone know how much its likely to be, is it the current value of the car, value at new, how is it calculated ? ,registering it in poland is rather exspensive aparantly, just need some idea how much its gona be,Regards TB

Edited by topbloke on 22/08/2010 at 17:43

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Mon 23 Aug 2010 11:35
Lexus LS - purchase tax and vat on a old vehicle - LucyBC

The pages on the DVLA site regarding improting are here:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/BuyingAndSellingAVehicle/ImportingAndExportingAVehicle/DG_4022583

It also includes links to download pages for forms etc.

You can substantially decrease both VAT and duty if the car was pre-owned in another country and is kept in the UK for more than a year.

But if the car is to be shipped to Poland and used there it will have to be registered in Poland after 6 months so in any event it may be a false economy to import it to the UK.

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